The circulation of the _New York Ledger_ is over 300,000 copies, and its
readers cannot be far short of one million of people. To all these the
name of ROBERT BONNER is as familiar as that of his paper.
He was born in the north of Ireland, near Londonderry, in 1824. He came
to this country when a mere child, and was brought up in the State of
Connecticut, where he received a good common school education. He was
apprenticed to the printer's trade at an early age, and began his
apprenticeship in the office of the Hartford _Courant_. He came to New
York at the age of twenty, and obtained employment in the office of a
political journal, which soon suspended publication. He then secured a
position in the office of the _Evening Mirror_, from which he passed to
the post of foreman in the office of a small, struggling, commercial
paper, called the _Merchants' Ledger_. In a year or two after forming
this connection, he purchased the _Ledger_, and determined to change both
its character and form, and convert it into a literary journal. He had
the good sense to perceive that there was a great need of a cheap
literary journal, suited to the comprehension and tastes of the masses,
who cared nothing for the higher class periodicals. He proceeded very
cautiously, however, and it was not until some time after that he made
the _Ledger_ entirely a literary paper, and issued it in its present
form. He induced Fanny Fern, who was then in the flush of the reputation
gained for her by her "Ruth Hall," to write him a story, ten columns
long, and paid her one thousand dollars in cash for it. He double-leaded
the story, and made it twenty columns in length, and advertised in nearly
every newspaper of prominence in the country that he was publishing a
story for which he had paid one hundred dollars per column. His mode of
advertising was entirely new, and was sneered at at the time as a
"sensational." It accomplished its object, however. It attracted the
attention of the readers of the papers, and they bought the _Ledger_ "to
see what it was." They liked the paper, and since then there has been no
abatement in the demand for it. The venture was entirely successful.
Mr. Bonner's energy and genius, and Fanny Fern's popularity, placed the
_Ledger_ on a substantial footing from the start, and out of the profits
of the story for which he had paid such an unusually large price, Mr.
Bonner purchased a handsome city residence.
He did not content himself with Fanny Fern, though she became a regular
contributor to his paper. He secured the services of Edward Everett,
offering him ten thousand dollars for a series of papers, the money to be
devoted to the purchase of Mount Vernon, an object very dear to the heart
of the great orator. Mr. Bonner not only secured a valuable contributor,
but won a warm personal friend in Mr. Everett. The latter continued his
connection with the _Ledger_ until the close of his life. Mr. Bonner
also secured as regular contributors to his paper George Bancroft, the
historian, James Parton (Fanny Fern's husband), Henry Ward Beecher, and
many of the leading men of the country, and a number of brilliant and
popular female writers.
The _Ledger_ is steadily growing in the public favor. From the profits
of his paper, Mr. Bonner has erected a splendid marble publishing house,
at the corner of William and Spruce streets, in New York, from which the
_Ledger_ is now issued. It is one of the most complete establishments in
the country, and is fitted up with every convenience necessary to the
performance of the work upon the paper in the most complete and
expeditious manner.
Mr. Bonner is married, and has a family. He owns a country seat in
Westchester county, to which he repairs in the summer. His city
residence is on the south side of Fifty-sixth street, a few doors west of
the Fifth avenue. It is a handsome brown stone mansion. In the rear of
it, on Fifty-fifth street, is his stable, a large and tasteful edifice of
brick. It is the most perfect establishment of its kind in the country.
Everything is at hand that is necessary for the comfort and care of the
horses, and the men in charge of the place are thoroughly skilled in
their business. Mr. Bonner owns seven of the finest horses in the world.
First on the list is "Dexter," the fastest horse "on the planet." He has
made his mile in 2.17.25 in harness, and 2.18 under the saddle.
"Lantern," a splendid bay, 15.5 hands high, has made his mile in 2.20.
"Pocahontas" has made her mile in 2.23, and "Peerless," a fine gray mare,
has followed close on to her in 2.23.25. The former is said to be the
most perfectly formed horse in the world. "Lady Palmer" has made 2
miles, with a 350 pound wagon and driver, in 4.59, while her companion,
"Flatbush Mare," has made a 2 mile heat to a road wagon in 5.01.25. The
"Auburn Horse," a large sorrel, 16.5 hands high, with four white feet and
a white face, was declared by Hiram Woodruff to be the fastest horse he
ever drove. These horses cost their owner over two hundred thousand
dollars, and he would not part with them for double that sum. He will
not race them, though almost every inducement has been offered him to do
so, as he is opposed to racing for money. He bought them for his own
enjoyment, and drives them himself.
[Picture: ROBERT BONNER.]
Mr. Bonner is now very wealthy. He lives simply, however, and detests
and shuns personal notoriety or ostentation. He has the reputation of
being a warm-hearted, generous man, and has many friends. He is short,
thick-set, and solidly made. His hair is sandy, his complexion florid,
his forehead large and thoughtful, his eye bright and pleasant, and his
manner frank, genial, and winning.